After launching its news portal nearly two years ago, malaysiakini today launched another online product called Analysis Malaysia to cater for "decision-makers who need in-depth analysis of this country's political issues and current affairs".

Company CEO and co-founder Premesh Chandran said the subscription-based product is targeted at a specific audience, namely investors, political observers, think-tanks and diplomats.

"There has been a great demand from our readers who have asked for in-depth information about political events in Malaysia, so we are providing them something from the local perspective," said Premesh when asked on the company's new product.

He also said he disagreed with the popular perception that only the Western media is capable of producing objective analyses.

"I think we Malaysians understand the local issues better," he said.

Premesh also expressed hope that Analysis Malaysia will eventually cover regional issues and cater for the Asean market as most of the countries are in their transition period and "full of dynamics".

Good reference

Analysis Malaysia is the anchor product of malaysiakini's newly-established division called Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM). The division is currently headed by senior analyst James Wong Wing Onn, assisted by veteran journalist Nash Rahman.

Late last month, the division published the pilot issue of Analysis Malaysia> which focuses on the history and dynamics of Umno politics and its key players. The contents of the issue are free to view at www.analysismalaysia.com.

The publication will feature weekly media reporting providing analyses of main news items and a fortnightly current affairs report featuring in-depth analyses of main current issues, events, individuals and organisations and the latest political developments.

Wong said Analysis Malaysia will be a good reference and guide for decision-makers on the go who need a digestible and comprehensive summary of current affairs.

Citing the weekly vernacular press briefs, Wong said the analyses will be different as his team is more familiar with the sentiments of the Malaysian society at large.

"A lot of foreign news periodicals may be able to provide news and opinions but they are mainly written from the English-educated upper-middle class's point of view.

"Our analyses will take in account the views of masses," he said.

Wong, who was a award-winning senior journalist with the Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh added that Analysis Malaysia is not merely descriptive 'but predictive as well'.

"We go one step further by telling our readers what may possibly happen because we have good contacts with people from within and outside the establishment," said the former member of parliament with a political science and economics degree from the Australia's Monash University.

All views

Nash stressed on Analysis Malaysia's objectivity, adding that views from all parties will be included.

"For instance, for our next analysis on the Islamic state issue, we will have discussions with a panel of scholars, politicians and religious leaders," said the former chief news editor of Malay daily Berita Harian who has over twenty years of experience in journalism.

Priced at US$1,000 per year, Analysis Malaysia is expected to achieve a target of 250 subscribers by the end of this year and 500 in a year's time, said SAM project manager Loh Yin San.

Loh said in future, seminars will be organised to enable subscribers to exchange ideas on various topics. She also said the analyses on the site could be printed and distributed to subscribers should there be any request from them.

This, she said, is part of the service provided by the company and included in the annual subscription fee.

She added an archive of current affairs reports, a database of political biographies and a compilation of facts, figures and events will also be made accessible to subscribers in the near future.